Greenchair

Looking Up

2010-04-10T22:10:00.000-07:00

Things are looking up (or at least I have been) since my last post. This shot a recent sunny day in March on the Oregon Coast

Signs of Life

2009-02-25T17:47:00.000-08:00

These are signs of the times that tickled me recently...

Not only do Portlanders ride bicycles,

we have designated parking!

From the neighborhood Frisbee Golf Park

(click on photo to enlarge)

And lucky me; this is one of my neighbors!

My Best Shot...so far

2009-02-24T16:23:00.000-08:00

Carly nudges us again with a photo challenge asking us to post "our best shot."Being new to photography (and loving it!) I've been experimenting then tossing a whole lot of them ( Oh! the convenience of digital!) This angle shot was found on the Waterfront in downtown Portland on a bleak winter day with my Nikon Sistas! (It reminded me of a similar photo posted by Jama recently.)

A New Look

2009-02-23T21:10:00.000-08:00

It was suggested that I redesign my blog layout to include a white background. I'm a plane-jane when it comes to color, etc. Any input would be welcomed, especially in terms of posting photos. Speaking of which, here's some eye candy for ya!

Round Robin Photo Challenge: Light Moves

2009-02-21T00:03:00.000-08:00

Thanks goes to Julie for this neat topic for our RR challenge.

I call it Lampa-Dots.

Monday Photo Shoot: Birds

2009-02-19T18:52:00.000-08:00

Taking photos is a great way to start a Monday...or anyday for that matter. Birds have been a popular shot for me of late! Here is my launch at Orthinology, but correct me if I am wrong; these are Red Wing Blackbirds, male and female. I just happened to hear their song after getting out of my car one day. Their music got my attention first, then the male's red shoulder.

Speaking of Rocks: A Riversuite

2009-02-18T18:00:00.000-08:00

This is a song I wrote for my partner

which I sang to her on our wedding day.

Found you at the creek side, a place we know as Paradise

Searching for that rare stone, at the water's edge

One that's worn and rounded, by current it is placed there

A treasure for your pocket, a gift you carry home.

I'll find it in our garden, there among the wild flowers

A little bit of Paradise of our own.

Found my treasure blooming, underneath a boulder

Though it was unlikely as the creek had long run dry

Perhaps it was by bird wing, it had found it's way there

Little yellow wonder, springing from the sand

We'll find it in our garden, there among the wild flowers

A little bit of Paradise of our own.

So darlin' when the hard times leave us a bit jagged

Let's go back to those waters to hear the Riversuite

There, we'll be reminded, rocks with rough edges

Carried by the river, are the stones that make the song

I'll find you in the garden, there among the hummingbirds

A little bit of paradise of my own.

Wordless Wednesday:Life Lines

2009-02-18T17:44:00.000-08:00

Who would have thought that when you needed a lifeline, the universe would throw you a rock?

Found on the Rogue River, Oregon

Collections from my journey.

2009-02-11T17:10:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday: Brush Stroke Moon

This is what happens when you move and the shutter is wide open!

Find more cool stuff here!

Joy In My World

2009-02-07T18:37:00.001-08:00

Carly has done it again and challenged us with Joy: what makes your heart happy?

Our Wedding Day

Our Girls

Fly fishing with my big brother

Sea Kayaking

Making music with T

My latest passion

Family History

Things Left Behind

2009-02-04T05:44:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday

Lots more Wordless Wednesdays

Ellipsis Monday Photo Shoot #23

2009-02-02T19:35:00.000-08:00

Winter Days assignment brought to you by Carly.

These where shot in December during the worst winter storm we've had in about five years. We were snowed in for over a week and it was beautiful and relaxing and adventurous.

first robin

frozen curly willow

holiday hat knitted by Blanche

Wanna Be Photography

2009-02-01T20:04:00.000-08:00

I long to spend more time with this creative outlet.

The other day, I went to our local park to photograph the resident hawk I'd seen several times before I owned my new Nikon and telephoto. One day, perhaps I'll have all the tools and talent to shoot the photos I fantasize about, but here are some recent attempts.

a poppy from my garden

tracks

Phun with Photos Part 2

2009-01-31T07:54:00.001-08:00

Suzanne and Karen asked for the final product; not my best photo, but some cool rocks!

I call it Rocks full of Bowlies

Wordless Wednesday

2009-01-28T16:53:00.000-08:00

By the way; the dog is invisable too!

Find more at www.wordlesswednesday.com

Fun with Photos

2009-01-26T17:37:00.000-08:00

Carly prompts us with Photo Shoot #22: Rocks and Stones

Not only do I enjoy collecting them, I take pictures of them too. Here, my pal T and I are breaking in our new Nikons.

Baracko Bama!

2009-01-24T15:41:00.000-08:00

I find it hard to put into words what our recent election means to me. Others around the globe have so adequately expressed many of my sentiments, if not in words, in pictures. This one is from our local paper by Jack Ohman. My friend's four year old grandson puts it well:

"Baracko Bama!"

New Lens on a Perfect Day

2009-01-24T13:59:00.000-08:00

I managed these photos last weekend at the beach with my new telephoto lens. The weather was sixty-one degrees and as you can see, blue skies. Caught the gulls in flight and the Red Breasted Nuthatch having breakfast.

Not of This Season

2009-01-24T07:57:00.000-08:00

It pays to weed the garden; found this little friend among the roses.

Other sunny shots here.

Booking Through My Life

2009-01-22T19:29:00.001-08:00

Find more great prompts here.

This week's pondering is "Since “Inspiration” is (or should) the theme this week … what is your reading inspired by?

Often my inspiration is really driven by where I am - physically: in bed, on vacation, sitting on the pot! I am also driven to read non-fiction when my head needs to be challenged and I pick up something way out of my comfort zone to include science, genetics, philosophy. I usually read fiction in the winter, but I'm pretty picky about the fiction I read. It has to be more than an escape. I want intelligent fiction, which is why historical fiction attracts me. And quite often, I'm inspired to read that which my "mentors" are reading - to learn more, have more fun, or be challenged. I seldom read reviews. Books have a way of finding me. And I always delight in the plethra of childrens' books that out does anything I ever had as a child!

4x4

2009-01-15T21:45:00.000-08:00

My pal Terri at Ways I See the World tagged me for this post: Take the 4th photo of the 4th folder in your photo folder and post it.

This is my brother, Sundance holding up a fish I caught.

Friday Fill in #107

2009-01-15T21:20:00.000-08:00

FF-ins are so harmless!

1. Enough with the hot flashes !

2. Damn near everything causes me
to be conflicted.

3. I've been craving a new, more comfortable bed.

4. Big hair, TV evangelists make me laugh.

5. I wish I could go to visit my mom next week.

6. Our future has been on my mind lately.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to the beach house, tomorrow my plans include a long walk on the sand and Sunday, I want to enjoy having Monday off!

Every Day, One Good Thing

2009-01-12T21:49:00.000-08:00

I must admit; I didn't even want today to happen. For no particular reason other than I was in a cranky mood that never lifted. Then, I turned on the radio and I hit my knees (again!) Once again, I was reminded that my Monday mornings are among the highest blessings one could ever ask for and if I felt an ounce of the pain that others around the world endures, I'm still one very fortunate individual. Before I got to work, I had offered a prayer of gratefulness and one of compassion. May others know a Day of at least One Good Thing!

What's My Line?

2009-01-11T09:07:00.001-08:00

Here's a teaser I found on LibraryThing; wanna play?

Grab the book closest to you. Now*
Go to page 56.*
Find the 5th sentence and post it along with the name/author*
Don't go looking for your favorite book, or the coolest one you have - just grab the closest one.

Here's mine:

"With her words cold upon my heart, I have come to believe it would serve some purpose - whether personal or historical I cannot say - if I were to set down in my own words the story of how I cam to be a Saint and marry five wives."

from The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff.

Every Day, One Good Book

2009-01-10T09:37:00.000-08:00

I love RR's blog Every Day, One Good Thing as it reminds me to take a few moments each day to remind myself of the goodnesses in my life.

This morning it includes two hours in bed with my current novel, The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff. I enjoy the quiet hours of reading that Winter allows. Cuddled up with my cat, Chole, and a hot cup of coffee doesn't get much better on a Saturday morning!

Photo Journeys

2009-01-05T00:30:00.000-08:00

The Columbia River Gorge

This photo was taken by Lilly White, one of several photographers whose work is a part of Wild Beauty: Photographs of the Columbia River Gorge, 1867-1957. It seems Lilly led a privileged life, including traveling with her pal, Sarah up and down the Columbia river, taking photographs as members of the Oregon Camera Club. I envy their freedom to make these excursions, but today, I expect they'd envy my digital camera.

Photography was quite an ordeal in 1904 when this picture was "made." Professionals were usually men who were insulted to find Lilly and Sarah tying their boat up along the banks of the "mighty river" which was later memorialized in Woody Guthrie's Roll On Columbia.

The Columbia River has been greatly altered by the dozen of dams built on our behalf (not to mention the lives that were altered - particularly Native Americans' who once fished for salmon at the many falls along its course). This National Scenic Byway still holds tremendous beauty and rich historical journeys.

Sushi

2009-01-04T11:47:00.000-08:00

Every Day, One Good Thing

I love sushi. No, I really love sushi. It was the best holiday present I received this year and I got to enjoy it yesterday with my partner after we visited Wild Beauty: Photographs of the Columbia River Gorge, 1867-1957 (www.portlandartmuseum.org) -the best gift I gave this year. I love the Gorge as much as I love sushi. Two good things!

Friday Fill-ins #104

2009-01-02T09:42:00.001-08:00

Thanks again to Janet for Friday Fill-ins!

1. The world is ready for change.

2. Crap! was the last thing I said while balancing my checkbook.

3. I wonder if I'll find a different job this year.

4. I hope we have peace and tranquility at the end of all things.

5. There's something to be said for forgiving others.

6. July is where I want to be.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to trying a new recipe, tomorrow my plans include a an historical photo exhibit of the Columbia River Gorge and a dinner date over sushi and Sunday, I want to go to my writers' group!

A New Year of Hope

2008-12-31T11:39:00.000-08:00

1. It's over.
2. The last day of the year.
3. It went fast, then not fast enough.
4. The New Year holds hope.
5. Obama.
6. We had the audacity to vote.
7. Now we hold him accountable.
8. We'll hold ourselves accountable too.
9. Hope it works.
10. A New Year for healing.
11. Acts of hope.
12. (Can we say that word enough?)
13. I'll hold you to it.
14. And you will do the same.
15. Because it's not audacious
16. to inaugurate each other,
17. and take an oath:
18. to hold each accountable;
19. to hold each other up;
20. to hold each other.

Wordless Wednesday 31 Dec 2008

2008-12-31T11:31:00.000-08:00

Photos and Phriends

2008-12-30T18:41:00.000-08:00

What a great idea; blog about something positive each day. Check it out here: every day, one good thing

My two dear pals and I made our way through the streets of Portland (Oregon) today snapping shots with our new Nikons. It was a good thing. We are a good thing.

A Quick Note

2008-12-30T08:17:00.000-08:00

Today's prompt: If you could be the best in the world at something, what would it be?

For as much as I have invested in my own healing of my personal angst, I sure would like to be less hard on myself. What if we gave Pulitzer prizes for self-endurance? Who would we nominate?

Friday Fill Ins #104

2008-12-26T11:42:00.000-08:00

Perhaps it's the distraction of the holidaze, but this is the best I can do today...
Thanks, Heather, for the prompts!

1. I must fly fish as much as possible before I die.
2. You can't stop wondering.
3. I wish I never had to buy Christmas presents again.
4. Journal writing has helped me change my life.
5. I know the song within me by heart.

Booking in Winter

2008-12-25T20:59:00.001-08:00

Thanks, Deb, for this trip down memory lane.

Find more at: Booking Through Thursday

What are the most "wintry" books you can think of?

The ones that almost embody Winter?

While I know there are a zillion, wonderful children's books about winter, and winter holidays celebrated in many traditions, the few below are one's I've read and are among my favorites. What else would you add to my library?

A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas

Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

I Spy Christmas by Jean Marzollo

The Nativity by Julie Vivas

The Mitten by Jan Brett

Amazing Peace by Maya Angelou, illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen

Wordless Wednesday - Robin in Winter

2008-12-24T13:53:00.000-08:00

Light is Returning

2008-12-21T15:34:00.001-08:00

This is a song we sing each Winter Solstice (and whenever else we feel like it too!)

Light is returning

Even though this is the darkest hour

No one can hold back the dawn

Let's keep it burning

Let's keep the light of hope alive

Make safe our journey through the storm

One planet is turning

Circles on her path around the Sun

Earth Mother is calling her children home

(lyrics by Charlie Murphy)

Leaning Into Christmas

2008-12-20T18:17:00.000-08:00

As much as I can bitch about the holidaze and list all the issues I have with them, I've decided it might be healthier for me to lean into them this year - instead of trying to control how everyone else in my world does them. Let's face it; Christmas is really about intimacy and I don't know a soul who doesn't struggle with that! Yeah, shopping is a pain and all the commercialism is counter-intuitive, but many of the rituals we perform year after year can actually ground us in this chaotic time. Trust me; this is a stretch for me. I fight this season like a baby in a breach birth! ("What do you mean I have to go head first!") Thanks, Diane, for this poetic idea!

1. I hate Christmas.
2. But I still cry at songs about a birth
3. Not mine.
4. The baby Jesus's.
5. Though it's just a story
6. I still cry.
7. I play those songs on the piano
8. And sing along with Bing
9 And Andy
10. And church ladies everywhere, I suppose.
11. Music is the reason for the season.
12. Pagan songs.
13. Kwanza songs.
14. Dradle songs.
15. I sing them all.
16. I'm so P.C.
17. But the ones that make me cry
18. Are still about the baby Jesus.
19. So why do I hate Christmas?
20. Because I'm afraid.
21. Afraid it will cost too much
22. Even though I don't live under a bridge.
23. I'm afraid.
24. Afraid I'll be cranky
25. When everybody else is jolly-ole-saint-Nicholas-ing.
26. I'll be Scrooge
27 And see ghosts.
28. Or my shadow side.
29. But another thing?
30 I really love the cookies
31. And stocking stuffers.
32. And wrapping the presents.
33. I'm very creative.
34. Christmas is a creative time.
35. It creates a lot of fuss.
36. Confusion.
37. Tantrums.
38. This year
39. I'm giving up tantrums.
40. Santa may not notice
41. But my loved ones will.
42. If only for a day.
43. I won't be naughty.
44. I will be nice.
45. Like sugar and spice.

Friday Fill-ins

2008-12-19T08:37:00.001-08:00

Janet is up for some holiday cheer with this one!

1. Said the night wind to the little lamb, "Could you ask that kid to quit banging on his drum? He'll wake the baby!"
2. The first Noel, the angel did say, "I'll do my best to keep Herod away!"
3. Children are sledding, Over the hills and everywhere.
4. It came upon the midnight clear, that Santa drank eggnog then chased it with beer!
5. Hey, Scrooge; Let your heart be light.
6. And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing in the shower, ding-aling!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to another good nights sleep, tomorrow my plans include staying warm in case the weather forecast is correct, and Sunday, blow off some cabin fever!

Booking Treats

2008-12-18T08:39:00.001-08:00

Thursdays are fun thanks to Deb at: http://btt2.wordpress.com/

What is the best book you ever bought for yourself?

Given I majored in English, I bought a lot of books in college, though most of them were by male authors. When I bought Kate Chopin's The Awakening for my American Lit. class, I thought I had died and gone to heaven; finally, a novel by a woman I could relate to. Immediately, I checked out both volumes of her short stories from the University Library and wrote a paper which I would later give to my mother for Christmas. (It may be the best Christmas present I've ever given too!) Find more here: http://www.katechopin.org/

And, why? What made it the best? What made it so special?

Kate Chopin explored edges of her life and of being a woman at the turn of the century that spoke to this young college student in 1983! It's one of the only books I did not re-sell at the campus bookstore (along with the huge volume of Shakespeare's Complete Works that I've schlepped around all these years.)

Wordless Wednesday - Bah Humbug!

2008-12-17T10:58:00.000-08:00

Photo courtesy of : http://nekkedlizardadventures.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/12/let-there-be-lights-.html

More Wordles Wednesday here: http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/

Winter Critters

2008-12-14T17:19:00.000-08:00

Northern Pygmy Owl

White Tailed Deer

Mountain Chickadee

It's winter here in Portland; I've been in all day, wishing I was out taking photographs like these. For now, I'm enjoy them - and more - at: http://northwestnaturalmoments.blogspot.com/.

Friday Fill-ins #102

2008-12-12T06:32:00.000-08:00

1. I don't see my friends enough!

2. My mental health; it's dependent on being in the great outdoors! .

3. I'm ready for visitors to my blog :)

4. Morning coffee is one of my favorite smells.

5. The oldest ornament I have is gone.

6. Take some voices mix it all together and you have a choir.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a white elephant party, tomorrow my plans include exercise, and Sunday, I want to be creative!
Posted by Janet at Links to this post

Booking Through Thursday - Time for Reading

2008-12-11T17:48:00.000-08:00

Find more great "booking" questions here: Booking Through Thursday

1. Do you get to read as much as you WANT to read?
Maybe a better question is what keeps me from reading more? The dishes and taking the garbage out; laundry and putting groceries away. Tending to my blog...feeding the dog...being a hog...I'll make this short; I want to head to bed early and finish that book laying face down on my nightstand!

2. If you had (magically) more time to read–what would you read? Something educational? Classic? Comfort Reading? Escapism? Magazines?
I'd go to Powells bookstore here in Portland and set up camp and live there among the stacks and I'd take something to write in - or maybe my blog - to share with all of you what it was like to have every bit of print material a person could ever fantasize about in one's lifetime. (Check them out at: http://www.powells.com/ )

Wordless Wednesday -November Full Moon

2008-12-10T06:40:00.000-08:00

Find Wordless Wednesday here!

Friday Fill-in #101

2008-12-05T16:37:00.000-08:00

1. Snow brings out the kid in all!

2. I'm looking forward to growing my blog.

3. Suboro's is the best sushi in Portland ever!

4. One of my favorite old tv shows is

Gilligan's Island because my little brother and I

pretended I was the Skipper and he was my "little buddy."

5. I'm done with cassette tapes.

6. The most enjoyable thing around the holidays is going to a movie and belly laughing with my pals Terri and Nan!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to my partner coming home from work tomorrow my plans include finishing a piece of writing to share with my writing group and Sunday, I want to sleep late and read in bed.

Booking through Thursday - Authors to Note

2008-12-04T18:21:00.000-08:00

Today’s Booking Through Thursday post asks you about your favorite (and least favorite) authors!

1. Do you have a favorite author?

Just one? I guess if I was stranded for the rest of my life with only one author to read, I'd take James David Duncan with me because I don't think I would grow tired of reading him.

2. Have you read everything he or she has written?

Yes, though I didn't finish The Brothers K....yet.

3. Did you LIKE everything?

Pretty much; he's a writer I like to read for his skill over his content (which is why I haven't finished Brothers K.)

4. How about a least favorite author?

Darn near everything I read in the first half of my American Literature class in college.

5. An author you wanted to like, but didn’t?

Everytime I see a Louise Erdich novel I think I need to give her another chance, but even the bargain books at Goodwill quench my temptation.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-12-03T19:41:00.000-08:00

Find Wordless Wednesday here!

A January Poem

2008-11-22T08:22:00.000-08:00

Children sled in the park
on a no-school day;
a white, winter, jewel day.

Perched on a branch
a squirrel gnaws a chestnut;
scampering down again and again
she’ll burrow in the snow
for another, scattered by autumn raking.

A trellis, her ladder
her paws, mittened hands –
like school girls lifting crudely made snow balls
to their frozen faces
she cups the nut, gnashing her sharp teeth
into the meat,
shell bits descending

Her tail, now a scarf
flutters fringe around tiny ears;
Nut-nougat full,
her golden-orange fleece belly
blazes against the winter backdrop

Later, peeling a tangerine at the sink
Juice runs down my sleeve
Splashing squirrel-gold-orange
On snow-white porcelain.

Green Chair

2008-11-19T18:15:00.000-08:00

Beside the green chair, where she sits in solitude overlooking the garden that calls for her presence, is a bookshelf which holds her collection of sacred texts: her Girl Scout Handbook; an autographed copy of Where the Red Fern Grows; a collection of Anne Sexton’s poetry – a graduation gift from her favorite English teacher in high school. This bookshelf holds a collection for recovery, Shakespeare’s Complete Works and a photo album from a previous life.

Intentionally small, when she gets around to dusting and re-shelving, she’ll sort through her titles and part with one or two: generally to make room for new editions that better feed her soul. “Should someone write my eulogy based on the titles on these shelves,” she thought, “it might reflect an interesting course.”

What was she reading at the time of her departure? What was the first book she ever read? What title had the most influence on her life as an adolescent? As a mom; a daughter; a friend? What title made her laugh? Made her stretch? Pissed her off?

What if, when we die, our friends and family gather at our bookshelves as a way of celebrating our efforts at navigating this lifetime and select one as a token of their loved one? Which books would we will to each other and why?

She knew that the words of others were the balms and salves that helped her heal and traverse a common journey. Perhaps some of her own writing should be archived here. The rest, she would take with her. Her ashes mixed with the ashes of her journals - scattered somewhere she loved to be - on a favorite river, probably.

Spongeblog

2008-11-17T18:24:00.000-08:00

I gave brief consideration to naming this cyber adventure Spongeblog, but that clever idea has been abandoned. Greenchair is more fitting - particularly as we enter the dark months of the year. My chair sits in a cozy nook in my bedroom, overlooking the garden which remains fallow while I read and write and snooze away the long, rainy, winter days. Here in the Pacific Northwest, winter is dark and wet and we wonder if Spring will ever return. While we long to be in our gardens, some of us do our finest cultivating while all curled up and snuggled in with good books and our journals.